Missoula Fire Chief Announces Retirement After 32 Years of Service
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Missoula City Fire Chief Gordy Hughes announced on Thursday that he will officially retire from the Fire Department on June 30.
I spoke with Chief Hughes not long after his announcement was made public.
After 32 Years of Service Missoula Fire Chief Gordy Hughes will Retire on June 30
“I think after nearly 32 years of public service in the Missoula Fire Department serving the community of Missoula, I think it's time to think about pulling the pin,” began Chief Hughes. “I've set the date as June 30, to make that a true fact, so I'm looking forward to the twilight here in these remaining four months, we've got a lot of work left to do as far as our search for land appropriate for a (Fire) Station Six and standing up an additional engine company to serve the citizens of Missoula.”
Chief Hughes said he will continue in his day-to-day status as Missoula’s Fire Chief.
Chief Hughes Said He Will Continue to Work Full Time Until He Retires
“I don't believe in a lame duck status, so I’m going to keep my sleeves rolled up and ensure that we're still doing what we have to do at the apartment on the chief’s end of things,” he said. “There will be a chief’s search, be it from inside or outside, and what that looks like we're still laying out the terms of that with the city, and I just think it's time for some young blood to come in and lead us forward.”
Chief Hughes said his main goal before retiring was to get a sixth city fire station; a goal he helped to achieve.
“I had expressed to Mayor (John) Engen at the time when I interviewed for the position of Chief that my number one goal was to secure the funding or to even build station six within my tenure, and I couldn't be happier with how the Missoula voters and public had supported that and helped to fulfill that goal.”
READ MORE: Mayor Davis and Chief Hughes Thank Missoula for Passing the Levy
He Looked Back in Pride at His Accomplishments as Fire Chief
Chief Hughes looked back with pride for all that he and his staff have accomplished during his tenure.
“With the growth of the community, just since I was hired in 1993; at that time we had three fire stations in Missoula,” he said. “I'm not exactly sure what the population was, but if you put all this in perspective, since 1993 we will have added, or are in the process of adding three additional stations, so we've almost doubled the size in that short amount of time. I think it's really a testimony of what we're seeing in the West and people's desire to live here.”
Chief Hughes was the driving force for the recently passed 2024 Fire Levy and received a $7 million SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant.
Hughes said he is proud of his career with the Missoula Fire Department and looks forward to his retirement on June 30.